British Quartet get the ISU Junior Grand Prix season off to a flying start

The international junior figure skating calendar got off to a flying start with the first Junior Grand Prix event for 2018 having taken place from the 23rd-26th August in Bratislava, Slovakia. NISA sent along four talented young skaters, Luke Digby (17), Kristen Spours (18), Emily Rose Brown (17) and James Hernandez (16) all of whom are on the road to Olympic potential. This is the first of seven competitions held all over the world that make up the ISU Junior Grand Prix Series, with different junior athletes competing in each event over the course of the next eight weeks.

Representing the Junior Men for Great Britain was Luke Digby. Luke put in a stellar performance for his Short Programme skating to Piano Concerto No.1 by Tchaikovsky, which placed the talented teenager 12th out of 24 competitors. Luke held his ground in the Free Programme, skating to the soundtrack from the film La La Land and finishing overall in 12th position with a total of 152.78 points. A fantastic start for his opening event in the 2018-19 Junior Grand Prix.

For the Junior Ladies, Great Britain was represented by multiple British Junior Ladies Champion, Kristen Spours. Competing in a larger group of 35 skaters Kristen got her Short Programme off to a solid start finishing in 11th position. After a few small mishaps during the Free Programme, which she too skated to the soundtrack from the film La La Land, Kristen finished overall in 13th position out of 33 skaters with a total of 131.09 points. A strong finish for Kristen in the top half of the Junior female skaters.

Last, but certainly not least, Slough-based Ice Dance couple, Emily Rose Brown and James Hernandez, the youngest of the four British skaters. Skating a thrilling Short Programme to a Tango Instrumental alongside Bamboleo by the Gypsy Kings, the couple finished in a very respectable 7th position. The youngest GB competitors managed to maintain their midway position after the Free Programme, finishing overall in 7th position out of 14couples, showing fantastic potential for their future competitions to come.

Over the coming months, ISU Junior Grand Prix events will be taking place around the world showcasing some of the very best young figure skating athletes with more junior GBR athletes competing until October. The final, an invite-only event, is made up of competitors who have scored the most points over the previous seven events. Each skater can only compete in up to two series events. The 2018-19 final is scheduled to take place in Vancouver, Canada on the 6th to the 9th December.

Subscribe to the ISU YouTube channel to watch all the Junior Grand Prix event live here: https://www.youtube.com/user/ISUJGP201